Emma Raducanu has voiced concerns over the scheduling of her first-round match at the Australian Open, admitting the timetable “doesn’t really make sense” given her late arrival in Melbourne and the likelihood of a near-midnight start.

The British number one, competing as a seeded player at a Grand Slam for the first time in more than three years, will begin her 2026 Australian Open campaign less than 48 hours after landing in Australia. Raducanu arrived on Saturday following a strong run to the quarter-finals of a warm-up event in Hobart, a trip that was further complicated by a delayed flight.

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Tight Turnaround Raises Concerns

Raducanu’s opening match against Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew has been scheduled for Sunday night on Margaret Court Arena. The match is second on the evening session, following a men’s singles contest that could extend to five sets.

With the men’s match scheduled to start at 7pm local time, there is a real possibility Raducanu may not take to the court until close to midnight — an outcome she believes highlights flaws in the tournament’s scheduling approach.

“Tennis players are used to short turnarounds, but this one is very difficult,” Raducanu said. “You’d love to have more time to settle into the environment and practise, but the schedule was pretty much handed to me and I have to deal with it.”

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Late-Night Scheduling Under Scrutiny

The former US Open champion questioned the logic of placing a women’s match after a potentially lengthy men’s encounter, suggesting it places unnecessary strain on players.

“I think it’s very difficult to be scheduling women’s matches after a possible five-set match,” she explained. “To me, it doesn’t really make as much sense.”

Late-night finishes have become an increasingly contentious issue at Grand Slam tournaments, with concerns raised about player welfare, recovery time, and performance quality.

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Adjusting Preparations to Suit the Schedule

Rather than dwell on frustration, Raducanu said she is focusing on adapting her routine. After seeing the schedule, she shifted her preparations to mirror the expected match conditions.

Her only practice session at the Australian Open was pushed back to 9pm on Saturday night, allowing her to adjust physically and mentally to competing under lights at a late hour.

“Once you see the schedule, your first reaction is ‘that’s late’, but then you just try to adjust your day around it,” she said. “It’s a new experience for me and something I’ll need to learn how to manage.”

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Limited Practice Time a Factor

The disrupted travel schedule meant Raducanu was unable to train on Friday, further limiting her on-court preparation. Combined with a foot injury that curtailed her off-season training, the lack of practice time has been evident in her early performances this year.

Despite reaching the quarter-finals in Hobart, she suffered a hesitant defeat to a much lower-ranked opponent, at times appearing passive and uncertain in her shot selection.

Raducanu acknowledged she is still building rhythm and confidence, but insisted she is not overly concerned by recent results.

“I haven’t taken the last few weeks’ results too seriously,” she said. “I know I’m working my way into where I want to be, and I’m happy with how I’ve handled things mentally.”

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Signs of Progress Despite Challenges

The 23-year-old enjoyed an encouraging 2025 season, returning to the world’s top 30 and playing more matches than in any previous year of her career. However, the technical improvements she hoped to make during the off-season with coach Francisco Roig were delayed by injury.

Even so, Raducanu believes navigating challenges like late-night matches and tight turnarounds will ultimately benefit her development.

“If I’m going to be playing this game for a long time, I’ll probably be in this situation again,” she said. “So it’s a good learning step — adapting, dealing with it, and moving forward.”